Liquid-measuring apparatus



Dec. 7 1926. 7 1,610,102

G. w. MaQKENZIE LI QUID MEASURING APPARATUS Filed July 29. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 7 1926. 1,610,102

7 G. w. M KENZIE LIQUID MEASURING APPARATUS Filed July 29. 1925" 5 Sheets-Sheet s FIELY.

m IN V60 70 2 WITNESSES away on the plane indicated at VIQV',

Fig. IV. a 7

Referring, first, to Figs. I, II, and III.

Patented Dec. 7, 1926. I

1 rss e-nonen w. iaaexnnzin, or BEAVER, rnnn sYLvanL i. nssrenor. To Jenn njrosrna,

or ROCHESTER, 'PEN sYL NIA- v LIQUID-MEASURING ArrAnA'rUs. l

hpplicationfiledlujly 29, 1925. serial no,

My invention relates to liquid-measuring apparatus, and finds practical application as an'adjunct to liq uiddispensing apparatus,

and particularly togasolineedispensing apparatus. In and describe it.

In the accom' an in ,drawin s-Fi is a View in vertical sectioniot the measuring chamber of a now familiar form of gasolinedispensing apparatus, to which my present invention is here applied. Fig. II is a View in horizontal section, one plane adjacent the upper head of the cylindrical measuring chamber of Fig. I ,.looking downward, and showing the" contained parts in plan from above. Fig. III is a View similar to, Fig. II, but on a planeadjacent thelower head: of the 'measuring chamber. In Fig. III, also, thevertically moving fioat, which in Fig. I appears near the upper end of its range, is

shown, and it-will'be understood to be in lowered position. Fig. I istaken on two radial planes, indicated by the broken line II, Fig.7 II. FigJIV is a viewto some what larger scale, showing reg stering apparatus; This in the main isa view in side elevation; details,- however, are shown in section. Fig. V is aview of the same ap'pa: ratus, seen in tront.elevation, -but with the float and its carrier removed, as though out The measuring chamber will be seen'to be of familiar form, in that'it consists of an otherwise open-ended cylindrical body 1,

ordinarily of glass; sustained in Vertical po-f sition and bolted betweenupper and lower plates 2 and 3, ordinarily of cast iron. These plates term the headset the cylindrical chamber. Through the lower plate extend" I 7 return lead 7. and extendlng onthe s1de of an inlet lead 4, a delivery lead5, an overflow lead 6,, and a return lead 'i. The inlet' lead carriesgasoline from 'a suitablesource of supply, an underground tank, for 1 example, and-while any preferred mode of fill measuring chamber, which from this point torward'will be designated merely by thereference numeral 1; It is fusual-that a check-valve eeleded the line 91f flowisuch application I shall show I I Y inlet lead i isprevented." Within the measfrom the source ot supply through the inlet 7 lead to the measuring chamber, and, while arEN'r oFFIc-E.

no valve appears in the drawingajit will be understo-odthat such'a valve is present in the nstallation, and that back-flow through uring chamber l the inlet lead is prolonged in an inverted U-shaped pipe 8, which rises from the bottom plate 3, approximately to.

the top ot the chamber and, descending thence, opens downwardly. near the bottom of the chamber. By such provision, quiet 1 rise of the tide of gasoline within measuring chamber 1 is assured. InFig. I the descending branch otthe U-shapedinlet pipe 8 is diagrammatically indicated in dotted lines. The delivery lead 5 is continued, as appears in Fig. I, in the usual delivery hose 9. The

the filling of the measuring chamber to a predetermined pointand the retention in the r measuring chamber'of apredetermined max-g imum volumeof gasoline. The return lead carries gasoline by gravity, back to the sup,- ply. tank. It will b'eunderstood that at a convenient point ins-this r'eturnlead a handoperatedcut-ofi valveis arranged. Such a.

'' valveis "indicateddiagrammatically atv 11.

The delivery lead 5 and the return lead 7 are relatively situated, as best shown in Fig. II, of Fig. III) at equal radial distances from the axis ot-thecylinder. They' are conveniently arranged adjacent one another, are 'ofequalsize, and are separated at asmall but sufficient interval. The plate ,3, is pro-f vided with a groove 12 formed in, its uppe-r surface, continuous with the orifice to the to delivery lead 5 iscont'inued in a groove 13 formed in the upper surface of plate 3.

This groove is similarly; curved and sym metrical in its arrangement, opposlte to groove 12,-as will appear. in considering Figs. II and III. Theinlet lead 4: and l i overflowlead 6 are arranged adjacent one another, at equal radial distancesv from the the valve plate.

cylindrical axis, but at less distance from the axis than leads 5 and 7; and, with IE? spect to the cylindrical axis, they are arranged opposite leads 5 and 7. This clearly appears in Fig. 11.

A valve plate v14s is mounted within the cylindrical measuring chamber, and it is rotatable on the cylindrical axis as a center of turning. To this end it is mounted on a central stem 15. The stem extends through a central orifice in plate 3; its passage is sealed by a packing gland 1.6. The valve plate'll is held to tight engagement upon the upper face of plate 3 by -the tension of a spring 17 which engages a collar on stem 15. A handle 18 is provided, for rotating Fig. I shows handle 18 protruding through an opening in the outer wall oft-he fixture. It will be understood. that the range of swing of handle 18 to efi L theends presently to be described may defined and limited in usual manner.

sills valve plate is provided with a succession oft orifices, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 28. Gne of them, 19, opens through the plate at the lever of its upper surface; the others, -20-2S, are extended upwardly by stand pipes, 2 1, 25, 26, 27, which rise from the plate to suecessively higher points. These stand pipes at their upper ends are open.

Fig. III shows the alve plate 1 in non delivering position. Vv hen it is in this position, valve 11 in the return pipe 7 being closed, the measuring chamber may be filled. Or, the measuring chamber being already full, and the valve plate 1% being in the po sition shown in Fig. Ill, opening of valve 11 will'permit all the contents of the measuring chamber to drain by gravity into the supply tanlr. But the p sition shown in Fig. III is also the position preparatory to delivery. Let it be understood that the n'ieasuring chamber is full, to the limit de termined by the height of the stand pipe 10. Then, valve 11 continuing closed, plate 14 may through handle 18 be rotated clockwise, as seen in Fig. ill, to bring any one of orifices 23, 22, 21. 20, and 19 to register with delivery orifice 5 in plate 3. Then when the valve in the delivery end'ot hose 9 is opened, the apparatu will deliver so much of the gasoline contained in chamber 3 as lies between the maximum level, determined "by the hei'ghtot stand-pipe 10 and the ei'l'ective level of the particular orifice which registers with orifice 5. The stand pipes 27, 26, 25, and 52 i are'graded inheigh-t. or example, the height of stand-pipe 10 maybe such as tosegregate within the mease uring chamber 'five'gallons of gasoline. and the stand-pipes 27. 2'6, 35, and may he s graded'in height that they will deliver, respectively. onel two.'th-ree, and four gallons, while orifice 19. which lacks a stand-pipe,

and whichopens-iatthe level of the upper surface of valve plate 14, will, if it be brought to registry with orifice 5, effect the delivery of the whole five gallons.

In Fig. I an automatic operation is suggested, for the return to the supplytank 0t further swing of lever 18, not at other times resorted to, will effect the opening of valve 11. lit will be understood, oi? this auton'iatic provision need not prevent an independent swinging of valve handle 112, when desired.

It is to be remarked that, by virtue'oi the prolongation of orifices 7 and 5 in grooves 12 and 13 the plural pipes cooperate to ac celerate the discharge of gasoline, either through the return lead to the supply tank or through the delivery'lead to the consumer.

When delivery has been made, either of a fraction or of the whole of the full charge (five gallons) in the measuring chamber, valve plate 14: may be rotated counter-clockwise and brought back to the initial position, shown in Fig. HI. Then, if there be gasoline remaining in themeasuring chamber, it may, by the opening ofvalvc 11, be returned to the supply tank; and whether the chamber be partly full or empty, it may be refilled to the maximum, ready for further deliveries.

Comparison of Figs. 11 and Ill will show valve plate 1 2 cut away, to permit the passage of inlet pipe 8 and'stand pipe 10, and the out is of such extent and shape thatthe rotation of the plate valve l4: in the manner described is not obstructed by the presence of pipes 8 and 10.

It is desirable to provide such apparatus with a counter to register the total amountof deliveries to customers in the course of continued service, and my invention resides in counter operating means, effective when delivery is being made through delivery orilice 5, but not otherwise. The means of my invention come automatically-into play and go automatically out of play, accordingly as the apparatus is made ready for delivery or shifted from delivery position: to speak specifically, theme-ans of my invention are automatically responsive to the shifting of valve plate 145.

At a convenient place, "preferably within the-measuringchamber 1, a counter 28 is rigidly mounted. The drawings'show a sat isfactory "arrangement, A bar 29 borne on arms 30 which extend'fromtheascending arm of'inlet pipe 8'. itself extends vertically, near the" center of measuring chamber 1.

course, that or; u u

This bar29 at its upper end-,flaiid beyond "Within the measuring chamber, andadjacent bar 29, but with rod 31- between, stands a vertically extending stein 35, and upon stem 35 a lo-at 35 slides freely. The arrangement is such, however, that the float 6 is restrained from rotation upon the stem. I

To this end the stem is conveniently square in cross-section and. the OUGRlIi in the float. n

through which the stem is threaded, is correspondingly shaped; Thus with the rise an-d tall ot the tide of gasoline within'the measuringchainben the float 36 will ascend and descend. Thisappears most clearly in considering 1 Fi I. The float carries a swinging, outwardextending latch, rigid to resist strains which beaii'upon it from below, but yielding understrain from above. A convenient specific arrangement is that best shown in Fig. IV. A small metal angle 3?" so pirotall ounted upon float 36 that it stands normally with one arm projecting horizontally ant the other extending vertically upon the vertical {ace of the float. The angle is free to turn, allowing the horizon tally extending arm to swing downward;

but opposite turning is opposed "by abutment at the vertical arm upon the body of thetloat.

Cooperating with, the latch 3'? a series of.

steps 38 is borne by rod3l. These steps are so placed that when under the unhindered etlect of gravity upon weight 3%, rod

31 stands in the position shown in Fig. IV,

steps 38 extend into the pathway of latch 37 when, borne by float36 it descends- The mounting of rod 31 by links-upon bar 29, already describedbrings it about that as through one or another of steps 38 the rod. 31 is carried downward, it swings to the right also (Fig. IV) and in a direction away from the path of descent of latch 37 The descending latch engages one by one the steps 38. and engaging a step, efiects a downward shift of rod 31, but presently the lateral shitt ofth'e rod carries the engaged step free 01" contact with latch 37. Thereupon,

in response to'gravity, the counterweighted rod 31 rises again to initial position.

Each such reciprocation of rod 31. effects a corresponding reciprocating rotation of the shaft of the counter, and a consequentunit shift of its legend-beariflgelements.

[is the latch iii-borne byfloat' 36 passes in its descent each succeeding step; 38, the same movementv of parts ensues, and the same movement within the counteris effect-- ed. The steps 38 are so set'that with the withdrawal of each gallon {or other unit; of gasoline troinnieasuring chamber 1, descending -Float 36 causeslatch 3'? to operate the descri bed instrumentalities and advance the counterr by one unit. the floatrises again the latch 3? swii "1.; a. ts? 0d IICAQ aboie By ihe steps on,

one attei another, and there. is 'no'shitting of rod 31 nor anymovement the counter.

I have ei' i ained that, the incasuring chamber being Iull, one or more gallons may be delivered to a customer, and any remainimparted to ing. gallons may be returned to the supply tank. It isdesirable that the counter carry registration of so manyv gallonsas have been ,iOl-Ch-blltshall make no registration of the Qfnll'ons'returned tov the supply tank; Tl is desirable discrimination is automatically accomplished as followsflhe steni35, upon which the float 36rises and falls is rotatable in its mounting-and its upper and lower bearings are conveniently torinedin an arm 39 which extends laterally from bar 29,-and in the plate 3. This is clearly sliownin Figs. I and IV. A spring 40 tending always to turn t e stem "35 in counterclockwise direction is. III V k holds the stein 35 normally in the position shown in Fig. II, and in that position the interengagement of latch 37 with steps 38 is such as'ha-s been described. Stein 35 is turther provided with an arm .41, and valve plate 14 is provided with a pin 4-2, and these are'sorelat-ively placed that as valve plate i l is turned tothe positionsliown in Fig. III,

a position in which delivery to a custoineris ill-l) impossible, but a position preparatory to the return otgasoline from the measuring chamberto the supply tank, pin 42 engaging arm 41 eiie'cts a turning of stem '35, against spring tension, clockwise as seen in Figs. II

and III,'and flo at36 with it, to the particular positionshownin Fig. III. In that position the latch 37 is no. longer aligned vertically with the steps 38.

With the parts in the positio'nshown in Fig. III, valve 11 being closed, the measuring chamber may be filled: The counter operatingapparatus is then in V non-operat ng position, for latch 37' is not aligned vertically with steps. 38. The measuring chamber having been tilled valve plate 1e may. be rotated to delivery position and deliyeryinay be made. "With the rotation of the valve'plate 14' (clockwise, III) pin 42 recedesand stem 35' together with float 36 under the influence'ot spring l0 resume. 'i ornial position, with -the'latch 37 in vertica-l alignment with steps 38.

In the sequent delivery of gasoline to the purchaser,

the counter will by the means described, be operated. But when gasoline previously drawn into the measuring chamber is to be returned to the supply tank (and of this registration is not desired) valve plate 14: must first be shifted counter-clocln 'ise to the position shown in Fig. III. In that shifting the stem 35 and the ti at 36 are auto matically turned again, and latch 37 is carried aside, out of vertical alignment with the steps. And then in the further descent ofthe float, incident to the return of gasoline to the supply tank, there will be no functioning oi: the counter.

It will be perceived that by providing latches 37 such as described, and which yield under strain from above, it is possible to fill the measuring chamber, regardless oi. the particular position in which the rotary stein may happen to be.

I claim as my invention:

1. In liquicbmesuring apparatus, the combination with a tanl: having a deliverycontrolling valve and w h a float-operated counter, of a float arran within and movable both vertically 11110. i, ansversely within the tank and adapted within its range of vertical movement to operate said counter and within its oi"- transverse movement to come to and from counter-operating position, the said iloat being responsive in such transverse movement to movement of said deliverv-controlling valve.

In liquid-measuring apparatus, the combination with a tank hat" 5 a deliverycontrolling valve and with a float-operated counter including a rotary shaft equipped with a crank arm, of a stepped operating rod hung from such crank arm, and a float arranged within and movable both vertically and transversely within said tank and provided with a step-engaging projection,

the fioatbeing responsive in its transverse movement to the movement oi said deliverycontrolling valve.

3. In liquid-measuring apparatus, the combination with a vertically standing cylindrical tank having a delivery orifice in its bottom wall and a ported plate rotary upon such bottom wall and by rotation con trolling egress through said delivery orifice, and with a float-operated counter, of a stem arranged vertically within said tank and rotatably borne by the bottom wall of said tank, and a counter-operating float vertically movable upon said stein rotatable in unison with said stem to and from coun- -=operating position, aid stein being rotatable in response to rotation of sad plate. 4i. in liquidaneasuring apparatus, the

combination with a tank having a d liveryvontrolling valve and with a float-operated counter, of a stem arranged vertically with i and rotatable in its position within said nk, a counter-operating float vertically ovabl-e upon said stemand rotatable'in mason with said stem to and from counteroperating post on. and means tending to hold said stem with the float in counter-opcrating position, said stein being rotatable against the tension of the means last named and in response to movement of said delivery-controlling .valve.

5. in liquid-measuring apparatus, the combination with a tank and a counter, of a stem arranged vertically within and rotatable in its position within said tank, a. counter-operating iloat vertically movable upon said stem and rotatable in unison with said stem to and from counter-operating position, and means for rotating said stein.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE n MAGKENZIE. 

